Structure and plasticity of Endophilin and Sorting Nexin 9

Structure. 2008 Oct 8;16(10):1574-87. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2008.07.016.

Abstract

Endophilin and Sorting Nexin 9 (Snx9) play key roles in endocytosis by membrane curvature sensing and remodeling via their Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domains. BAR and the related F-BAR domains form dimeric, crescent-shaped units that occur N- or C-terminally to other lipid-binding, adaptor, or catalytic modules. In crystal structures, the PX-BAR unit of Snx9 (Snx9(PX-BAR)) adopts an overall compact, moderately curved conformation. SAXS-based solution studies revealed an alternative, more curved state of Snx9(PX-BAR) in which the PX domains are flexibly connected to the BAR domains, providing a model for how Snx9 exhibits lipid-dependent curvature preferences. In contrast, Endophilin appears to be rigid in solution, and the SH3 domains are located at the distal tips of a BAR domain dimer with fixed curvature. We also observed tip-to-tip interactions between the BAR domains in a trigonal crystal form of Snx9(PX-BAR) reminiscent of functionally important interactions described for F-BAR domains.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / chemistry*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Sorting Nexins
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / chemistry*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • SNX9 protein, human
  • Sorting Nexins
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • endophilin A1 protein, mouse

Associated data

  • PDB/3DYT
  • PDB/3DYU